by I. T. Lucas
DARK STRANGER REVEALED
The Children of the gods book 2
I. T. Lucas
Contents
The Children Of The Gods
PREVIOUSLY: KIAN
CHAPTER 1: SYSSI
CHAPTER 2: DALHU
CHAPTER 3: KIAN
CHAPTER 4: SYSSI
CHAPTER 5: KIAN
CHAPTER 6: SYSSI
CHAPTER 7: KIAN
CHAPTER 8: MICHAEL
CHAPTER 9: YAMANU
CHAPTER 10: MICHAEL
CHAPTER 11: SYSSI
CHAPTER 12: KIAN
CHAPTER 13: DALHU
CHAPTER 14: KIAN
CHAPTER 15: MICHAEL
CHAPTER 16: SYSSI
CHAPTER 17: DALHU
CHAPTER 18: KIAN
CHAPTER 19: SYSSI
CHAPTER 20: KRI
CHAPTER 21: MICHAEL
CHAPTER 22: KRI
CHAPTER 23: SYSSI
CHAPTER 24: ANANDUR
CHAPTER 25: SYSSI
CHAPTER 26: BRUNDAR
CHAPTER 27: KIAN
CHAPTER 28: SYSSI
CHAPTER 29: KIAN
CHAPTER 30: SYSSI
CHAPTER 31: SYSSI
CHAPTER 32: ANDREW
CHAPTER 33: SYSSI
CHAPTER 34: SYSSI
CHAPTER 35: KIAN
CHAPTER 36: SYSSI
CHAPTER 37: KIAN
CHAPTER 38: SYSSI
CHAPTER 39: KIAN
CHAPTER 40: SYSSI
CHAPTER 41: KIAN
CHAPTER 42: KRI
CHAPTER 43: SYSSI
CHAPTER 44: KIAN
CHAPTER 45: SYSSI
CHAPTER 46: KIAN
CHAPTER 47: SYSSI
CHAPTER 48: DALHU
CHAPTER 49: AMANDA
CHAPTER 50: KIAN
DARK STRANGER IMMORTAL
CHAPTER 1: KIAN
CHAPTER 2: SYSSI
CHAPTER 3: SYSSI
Copyright
The Children Of The Gods
Kian & Syssi’s story
Book 1: Dark Stranger The Dream
Book 2: Dark Stranger Revealed
Book 3: Dark Stranger Immortal
Amanda’s story
Book 4: Dark Enemy Taken
Book 5: Dark Enemy Captive
BOOK 6: Dark Enemy Redeemed
Andrew’s Story
BOOK 7: Dark Warrior Mine
BOOK 8: Dark Warrior’s Promise
Coming Soon
book 9: Dark Warrior’s Destiny
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PREVIOUSLY: KIAN
Kian sighed as he returned the phone to his pocket. “As much as I hate to, I have to go and take care of a different kind of fire. Believe me, I would rather stay here and stoke this one.” Smiling suggestively, he quickly kissed her lips before lifting her off his lap.
“Make yourself at home. Okidu will show you around and help you get settled. Ask him for anything you need. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turned to leave.
“Wait, are you sure you want me to stay here? I could go to a hotel or stay with my brother...”
Hell, no, she belongs here, with me.
He turned back and walked up to her. Taking hold of her chin, he tilted her head and forced her to look into his eyes. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine to protect, mine to take care of, and this place has the best security money and loyalty can buy. I will not trust anyone and anyplace else with your safety. So make yourself at home.” He knew he was intimidating her, but it was for her own good. And anyway, they had some unfinished business he was determined to continue as soon as he’d be done with Shai. “We both know where this is heading, so why go through the pretense, Syssi? You might as well put your stuff in my bedroom. Anything else will be an exercise in futility.”
Syssi attempted to escape his hold and look away, but he held on to her chin, boring into her eyes in a not-too-subtle effort to cow her into compliance.
Surprisingly, a spark of defiance ignited in the eyes of this seemingly timid girl, and as the seconds ticked off, it flared into a full-on anger. Apparently, there was a little hellcat hiding under that demure demeanor, and she was about to come at him with her tiny claws bared.
Unflinching under his hard gaze, she tried to sound calm and collected as she challenged him, but there was an edge to her tone, and her heart rate sped up. “You might be right. I’m not going to deny this thing between us, but you offend me by presuming I’m the kind of woman who jumps into bed with someone she just met. I’m grateful for your concern for my safety, but I’ll appreciate having a room of my own.” She paused, reining in her temper before adding in a softer tone, “Face it, Kian, this whole situation is temporary, and in a day or two I’ll probably be back at my own place—it’s not like I’m moving in permanently. So please, don’t make it any harder for me than it already is.”
Yeah, and how unfortunate is that.
Though, perhaps, if he behaved more like a gentleman and less like an ogre she would stay a little longer. Letting go of her chin, he raked his fingers through his hair. “Forgive me, you’re right. Whatever makes you comfortable is fine with me...” Damn, he needed to do better than that. Trouble was, he didn’t really know how. “I wish I could be more charming and debonair for you, or even just patient, but that’s not who I am. A crude, insensitive jerk... that’s more my style.”
Syssi’s eyes softened. “Now you’re just fishing for compliments.” She smiled. “I like you, Kian, just the way you are. I’ll take blunt and honest over charming and deceitful any day, but that doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate it when you are being a jerk.” Stretching up on her tiptoes, she lightly kissed his lips. “Go, do whatever you need to do, I’ll be fine.” She grabbed his elbow and he let her turn him around. When her palm made contact with his behind, Kian eyes widened. Had she just slapped his ass?
And he thought she’d been intimidated by him. Wrong.
“Getting frisky, are we?” He laughed as he walked away.
“Just payback, smooth talker,” she called after him.
Chuckling, Kian shook his head on his way out.
Syssi defied characterization. How refreshing—a real person and not a facsimile of some preconceived set of attributes. She was different, and he liked that she didn’t fit into any standard mold: shy and reserved in some situations, hot and wild in others. Taking her pleasure in yielding sexually, asserting her will otherwise.
She certainly stood up to him, as not many would, and even fewer could.
Reflecting on her spike of arousal at his little show of dominance, and how it had unsettled her, he suspected it had been the first time she had experienced anything of that nature.
Syssi had had no idea what to make of it, or how perfect he’d found her response to be. And although it had been only a tiny taste, Kian hoped to be the first and the only she would ever explore this further with.
Regardless of how far she would let it go, he would love anything she would allow.
He would go slow, introducing her to the pleasures of submission one little step at a time, careful not to overwhelm her, or frighten her. A little fear was part of the game, but just a little. She needed to learn to trust him; to feel safe letting go with him.
Wait! Whoa... what was he thi
nking? There was no future for them.
And what a pity that was.
The more he'd gotten to know Syssi, the more convinced he'd become she was exactly what he wanted. Just as Amanda had predicted he would. Her courage to be honest and true to herself impressing him above all.
In contrast, Kian felt like a scumbag. He was deceitful. A jerk. A liar...
Trouble was, there was no way for him to come clean and tell her the truth, about anything really.
And that didn’t sit well with him at all.
It had been a mistake—a momentary lapse of reason, a weakness—to start with Syssi something that could never be. In a few days, she’d go back to her old life, and he would have no choice but to scrub her memories once again.
This time for good.
For his own sanity, he needed to keep his distance, which he knew would be impossible if she stayed with him.
Until it was safe for her to go home, it would be best for her to stay at Amanda’s.
It would be hell, knowing she was nearby but avoiding contact with her. For a moment, he even contemplated sending Syssi away to stay with her brother.
Out of sight out of mind.
But he hadn't lied when he'd told her there was no safer place for her than his keep. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her just because he wanted to make things easier for himself.
No, she would stay, and he would keep his distance no matter how torturous it would be for him.
And most likely for her to.
Poor thing, she wouldn't understand why he was avoiding her. She might even blame herself.
Fuck, he was such an idiot for starting this in the first place.
And it wasn't as if he hadn't known better.
What had he been thinking? That he would use her and then get rid of her like all the others?
Not going to happen, not with her.
Perhaps he should book that trip to Scotland he'd been putting off forever. He hadn't seen Sari and the rest of the gang in ages.
But more to the point, it would take his mind off a certain sweet blond that was threatening to ruin what had taken him nearly two thousand years to achieve—
Letting go of an impossible dream and accepting his fate of an endless, lonely life.
CHAPTER 1: SYSSI
“Wow, that was one hell of a kiss,” Syssi breathed once Kian had left to take care of whatever it was that had required his immediate attention and had interrupted what might have ended in his bedroom.
Despite the heated exchange that had followed, and her hypocritical indignation over his presumptuousness, she still felt hot and bothered as she gathered the dirty dishes left over from their brunch and carried them to the kitchen.
Getting busy at the sink, she mused about the recent upheaval in her orderly life. In the span of less than twenty-four hours, she had been chased by a group of dangerous zealots, spellbound by her boss’s imposing brother. Then she had somehow forgotten all of it, only to have him star in her most erotic dream ever.
In the light of day, however, the real Kian was better than any dream, and to be wanted by a man like him was one hell of a heady feeling.
And yet, Syssi didn’t know what to make of her intense response to him. Yes, he was gorgeous, intelligent and successful, but that shouldn’t have been enough to induce such a profound transformation in her.
The woman who had thought of herself as not all that sexual had been turned into a mindless puddle of need. And even more shockingly, it seemed that her newfound passion had a somewhat kinky twist to it.
Who would have thought.
Embarrassed, Syssi felt her face heating and attacked the dishes with renewed vigor, soaping and scrubbing the already clean plates.
“Please, mistress, let me.” Okidu gently but firmly took the plate she was washing out of her hands, then led her away from the sink.
“I’m sorry, I just thought to make myself useful.” The poor guy probably thinks I’m after his job. “I’m not the kind of guest who needs to be waited on. I like to help.”
“Oh, but madame, it is my distinct pleasure to serve you. You would not wish to deprive an old man of his pride and joy now, would you?” Okidu smiled his weird mannequin smile.
“Well, of course not…” manipulative butler… And although it was hard to tell, she hazarded a guess that Okidu was in his early forties—hardly an old man. “But please, call me Syssi.”
Okidu squared his shoulders. “I certainly would not.” He affected indignation with a heavy British accent. “Let me show you the guest rooms, madame.” He dipped his head and extending his arm motioned for her to precede him down the corridor.
There were four luxurious bedroom suites in addition to Kian’s and the butler’s, each decorated in its own unique color scheme and style.
Syssi chose the smallest of the four. Like Goldilocks in the Three Bears’ House...
“May I unpack your luggage, mistress?” Okidu asked as he brought her duffle bag inside the walk-in-closet.
“No, thank you. I’ll do it myself.”
“As you wish, mistress.” He bowed, then eased out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.
Syssi emptied her bag, fitting the few things she had brought with her all on one shelf, then moved on to the bathroom to deposit the ziplock bag containing her toiletries and makeup on the vanity.
Eyeing the large jacuzzi tub, nestled within an intimate enclave with a big window overlooking the cityscape, she was tempted to try it out. Which reminded her that there was a lovely lap pool out on the terrace, and it would be a damn shame if she didn’t take advantage of it while staying at Kian’s amazing penthouse. The tub could wait for later.
Problem was, she didn’t bring a swimming suit. Syssi was about to give up on the idea when a simple solution popped in her mind. In a pinch, a solid black bra and matching undies could pass for a bikini.
Still, in case Okidu would guess it was underwear, Syssi wrapped a large towel around her makeshift swim attire before going out.
The heated pool felt heavenly, soothing away the remaining vestiges of her anxiety as she swam slow, lazy laps then rolled over onto her back and floated.
Sweeping her hands in circles to keep herself afloat, Syssi closed her eyes in bliss. It was like vacationing in some luxury resort, and to make the experience complete, Okidu even served her a piña colada smoothie, poolside.
Perfect.
Well, almost. Kian wasn’t there.
Thinking of him, a warm feeling suffused her. She really liked the big, arrogant oaf. Any guy that was man enough to apologize and take responsibility for his mishaps, as well and as sincerely as Kian had done, was okay in her book... Even if he had blundered badly, behaving like an ass...
And anyway, the way the man got her heart pumping, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t have forgiven him even if he had not.
Yep, I’m definitely turning into a horny, brainless floozy. She chided herself as she finished the last of the smoothie with a loud slurp.
Leaving the empty goblet by her towel, she glided into the center of the pool and turning on her back again, paddled leisurely with her eyes closed.
“Hi, gorgeous!” Amanda’s voice startled her.
Splattering and splashing to right herself, Syssi soaked Amanda, who was squatting by the side of the pool and smiling like a Cheshire cat. “Hi, yourself! I completely forgot you’re next door.” Syssi wiped her eyes. “Wait a minute, you told me you have a condo in Santa Monica. When did you move here?” she asked, twisting her hair to wring it out.
Amanda brushed water droplets off her jean-clad legs and got up. “Oh no, this is just temporary. I definitely did not move in here, although Kian keeps nagging me to. I love him dearly, but living right under his nose would be a really bad idea. Anyhow, he keeps it ready for me in case I change my mind, and with those crazy fanatics on the loose, I decided to humor him.” She winked.
“Kian told me what happened at t
he lab last night. I’m so sorry. How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. The whole thing will blow over in a few days, and by then the lab will be as good as new. I’ve already arranged for a cleanup and for new equipment to be delivered. The only task remaining is for Maintenance to repaint the walls.”
“Have you given any thought to how we’re going to continue the research until the lab is ready? I think you’re overly optimistic assuming all of this can be done so quickly. I’d give it at least two weeks, if not longer.” Syssi got out and wrapped herself in the large towel.
“We can do some of the work from here, going over the data we already have, maybe even start a new paper. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you earn your pay. It wont’t be all swimming and lazing around... Just most of it.” Amanda snorted as she plopped down on one of the lounges and cushioned her head on her forearms.
“What about Hannah and David, are you planning on bringing them here as well?” Wrapping the towel tighter against the cool breeze, Syssi sat down next to Amanda.
“Heavens, no! I called Professor Goodbow and explained the situation. He promised he’d find them something to do until this mess is cleared. And anyway, Kian doesn’t allow strangers up here. Top floors are for family only.”
“I’m not family...”
“Yeah, but you’re special. Besides being the lunatics’ top target, I think my stubborn brother finally capitulated and went after you. Am I right? I hope I’m right... Tell me I’m right!”
Syssi’s cheeks heated. “Sort of, but what do you mean—finally capitulated—we just met yesterday.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just that I wanted to get the two of you together for some time now, but Kian being Kian refused all of my matchmaking efforts. So I didn’t tell you anything because what was the point? Right? But now that the fool finally met you, he likes you... as I told him he would. I’m going to have such a blast saying I-told-you-so, over and over again, driving him nuts. Because as I told him, you guys are perfect together.” Amanda smiled, all smug satisfaction over the success of her yenta schemes, or perhaps over the prospect of endlessly needling Kian.
